1,000 visitors get roses on Skytree’s second birthday

Tokyo Skytree, the world’s tallest broadcast tower, marked the second anniversary of its opening Thursday.

To commemorate the day, rose saplings were to be presented to 1,000 visitors. The tower will also be lit in 12 different illumination patterns every night through June 1.

The total number of visitors to the observation decks of the 634-meter tower exceeded 12.5 million earlier this month.

On holidays, visitors sometimes have to wait two hours before going up to the observation decks, according to its operator, Tobu Tower Skytree Co.

“We’d like to come here on every anniversary to celebrate the well-being of our family” said Hideto Yoshioka, a 27-year-old hospital employee from Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture. He visited the tower with his wife, Fusaka, 27, and their 1-year-old son, Akito.